Sustainability

(Updated March 2024)

At Trevalgan Touring Park we are committed to being as sustainable as we can and minimising our impact on the wonderful area in which we are fortunate to live and work. We consider Trevalgan a very special place... just two miles from St Ives town centre but quietly nestled between the granite north coast cliffs with bracken/gorse/heather covered hills behind and surrounded by open farmland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Examples of what we are doing to help...

We reduce, reuse and recycle where possible and encourage our guests to do the same by providing a well laid out, central bin area for separating waste (glass, tins, paper, card, plastic, hot ashes, general waste). This is completely screened from view with signage to help identify what goes in each area. We also offer a battery recycling service which is located in the Reception.

Our booking system sends confirmations and reminders via email and we no longer routinely provide printed receipts or booking confirmations. To ensure that all information is kept up-to-date and relevant, and to help reduce inevitable waste, information for guests can either be found on our website or digital information guide (links/QR codes are sent to guests at the time of booking/prior to arrival).  The digital information guide allows guests to find out all the finer details about our facilities and services on site, tourist information and recommendations of places to visit, interactive walking maps to help make the most of our stunning location/proximity to the South West Coast Path, bus timetables, local supermarkets, fuel/EV charging, take-away food deliveries, taxis, what to do in an emergency, etc. A bespoke printed local map and tourist information leaflets are also available for those who prefer to access information in this format.

All water on site comes from our own private borehole supply and is filtered and UV treated to a very high standard without the use of chemicals/chlorine.

We have our own sewerage treatment plant on site and predominantly use ‘Tersano’ Stabilised Aqueous Ozone sanitizer and Ecover cleaning products which help to protect the bacteria within the system that are vital for digestion and efficient running. The toilet tissue provided in the washrooms has been certified EU Ecolabel and FSC.

We only sell organic toilet fluid and rinse in our on-site shop and request that guests use these environmentally friendly products in their cassette toilets to help protect the aquatic life once this waste has been collected/removed from site for safe disposal.

Minimising water and energy use has never been so important and our basins and showers have been fitted with push button taps (not in the family/unisex rooms) and the buildings all have low energy LED lighting (with motion sensors in the toilet/shower block). The washroom areas also have Velux windows to give plenty of natural light and minimise the lighting required during the daytime. Instant ‘Rinnai’ boilers provide all hot water on site and are very energy efficient.

In 2021, the AONB in which we are fortunate to reside, was awarded the prestigious status of ‘International Dark Sky Park Designation’. To ensure that we were doing all we can to preserve and enhance the amazing night sky splendour for our guests and local community, we undertook a review of the external park lighting prior to the start of the 2022 season and have now removed a number of high level ‘street’ lights and have replaced them with low level solar lights.

During the renovation of the site facilities in 2013/14 we were very mindful of the local vernacular and sourced local granite for the extension to the toilet/shower block, used natural slate for the roofs of the toilet/shower block and the new reception/shop. We have used wood windows and doors throughout our facilities and have chosen to paint them in a soft grey/green to compliment the soft tones of the local granite. We used cedar wood cladding on the reception/shop which has naturally faded to a silver grey and again blends well in the built environment and is from a sustainable source.

In 2021, we replaced the old plastic coated site signage that had a short life span due to UV fading etc, with bespoke Welsh slate and oak signage. These all natural, and low carbon footprint, signs will last for many years to come and we feel that they sit very comfortably in the rugged natural surroundings of the AONB.

The Park is surrounded by Cornish stone hedges which provide a wonderful habitat for the native flora and fauna and we have areas of more ornamental planting and hedging but try to use species to compliment the area such as sea pinks (thrift) as well as bee and butterfly friendly plants such as lavender and buddleia. During April 2022, we planted 10 European oak trees to help mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee as part of  'The Queen's Green Canopy' initiative. During February/March 2024, we undertook a further wave of tree planting to help increase the biodiversity of the campsite including Crabapple, English Oak, Cherry, Scot's Pine, Sycamore, Alder, Field Maple and Magnolia. At the same time, we installed 14 bird nesting boxes (made from birch logs), 3 Nectar Bug Hotels, 3 Stag Bug Hotels and 3 bat boxes, all manufactured without harmful chemicals or treatments. We specifically chose the bug hotels as they are made in Staffordshire using foraged twigs, pine cones etc by a company that supports and involves people with learning disabilities in their manufacture through the Wildlife and Birdcare Nature Recovery Project CIC. We source locally produced, peat-free 'Blackgold' compost to use on the pitches and flower beds from a company less than five miles from the campsite.

When possible we use electric golf buggies, strimmers and hedge cutters to minimise noise and fume pollution to our guests and neighbours while continuing to maintain the Park to a high standard.

Whenever possible we like to use local tradesmen and suppliers as we recognise the real benefit this can have on our community. As an example of this commitment, we commissioned Outdoor Play People from St Columb Major to design, build, and install our bespoke pirate play ship and tractor/trailer slide. We also encourage our guests to choose ‘local’ while staying in Cornwall and we are very passionate about locally produced food and drink and stock many every day and luxury items in our onsite shop. Examples of our suppliers include Trevaskis Farm Butchery, Carter’s Eggs, Trewithen Dairy, Davidstow Dairy, Moomaid of Zennor, DeliPops, Roskilly’s, Boddington Berries, Simply Cornish, Cornish Sea Salt Co, Heather Bell Honey Bees, Cornish Orchards, Polgoon,  Buttermilk and many others.

We use paper/compostable bags in our on-site shop and we also sell our own ‘Trevalgan’ reusable cotton shopping bags/T-towels (produced by local company GoJute). We use compostable hot drinks cups but also encourage guests to use their own reusable cups when possible (this reduces the price of the drink). When possible, we sell canned water to reduce the amount of single use plastic being consumed. Other eco products available in the shop include sunscreen, feminine hygiene products, tissues, nappies, toilet tissue, recycled washing up sponges, Ecover cleaning products, etc. We only stock reusable barbecues, sustainable British charcoal and eco firelighters.

We encourage guests to leave their cars on site so they can explore the network of local footpaths and the nearby South West Coast Path and there is an on-site bus to St Ives town centre. Guests who wish to explore further afield using public transport can find all the information/links they need from our digital information guide.

Supporting Charities

We are proud business supporters of the ‘South West Coast Path’ and ‘Cornwall Wildlife Trust’ and we have also helped to raise hundreds of pounds for the ‘Children’s Hospice South West’ and 'WWF' through the sale of second-hand books and donations from guests to the counter-top collection boxes.